Railway-track-crossing structure



ril 26 1927. Ap- L. MoRRow RAILWAY 'TRACK CROSSING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 28. 192s Patented Apr. 23, 1927.

' @ITE 'IATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS MORROW, OF ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA.

RAILVAY-TRACK-CR-OSSING STRUCTURE.

Application filed December 28, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved railway track crossing structure including means for diminishing` noise incident to railway car wheels, bridging` gaps occurring in the track crossing structure, where the rails of the respective tracks intersect.

Vith the ordinary construction, it is well known that when a car is traveling on one track passing over an intersecting track, there is a metallic hammering subjecting the wheels and tracks to severe wear and tear.

This is caused by breaks or gaps existing in the traction surfaces ofthe rails on the respective tracks. l

The present invention has reference to an improvement which is composed primarily7 of a series of Simultaneously operated blocks movable into the proper spaces for present ing a solid running surface for the car wheels, together with novel electrical means for actuating the proper steps of blocks.

The particular details and their relative arrangement and association will become plainly apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a railway track structure showing the invention associated therewith, and showing diagrammatic layout of the electricity control.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view showing the parts of the invention more plainly.

In the drawing, the reference character 1 designates the north or south bound track embodying the rails 2, while the reference character 8 designates the east and west bound tracks the rails of which are designated by the reference character 4. These are of substantial conventional construction.

As before stated, the present improvement relates to the provision of means at points of intersection of the rails to prevent undue metallic hammering and wear and tear both on the wheels and tracks. The primary details of the structure for accomplishing this end consists of two steps or sets of vertically slidable blocks, the blocks of one set being represented by the reference character 5 and the blocks of the other set by the reference character 6.

It is to be assumed that the blocks 5 are brought into play when the north or south bound track is in use. and the other blocks G brought into play when the remaining Serial No. 157,543.

track is in use at the crossing. There are four blocks located as represented in Fig. 1, and adapted to move up into the space between the flanges of the track to serve as a bridge while temporarily in use. The operating means for the block is the same in each instance and it is believed that by directing attention to Fig. 2, a clear understanding of this means will be had. To this end, it will be seen that each block is pivotally connected as at 7 to a ring-like band 8 which encircles an eccentric 9 rigidly mounted upon a rotary shaft 10.

Mounted on the intermediate portion of the shaft is a gear 11 in mesh with the threads of-a worm 12 carried by a motor driven shaft 13. The motor to which this shaft is connected, is represented by the reference character 14. In this connection it will be noted that segmental contacts 15 are mounted in spaced relation of the insulated hub portion of the gear for automatically controlling the electric current,

Considering Vnow the electric control means I would state that the referencey character 16 'designates a watchmans tower including independent control switches 17 and 18, for operating the respective sets of blocks according to the occupancy of the tracks. Inasmuch as each electric circuit is the same, the same reference characters are employed to describe the parts.

To this end, the reference character 19 designates a battery, Q0 a motor, 21 ay wire leading from the switch 18 to the battery 19. 2Q represents a wire extending from the motor to on-e of the contacts on the contact block 23 which is mounted in any appropriate manner. A continuation of this wire is represented by the reference character 22, then there is a supplemental wire 24 leading from the other contact on the block 23 for the purpose of shunting the current across to the wire Q1 and back to the battery.

It is to be assumed now that the north bound track 1 is occupied by an oncoming train. Before the train enters the crossing, the operator in the tower 16 is supposed to close the switch 18. This closes the circuit to set the motor 2O into operation. Obviously, this operates the worm shaft 13 which in turn rotates the gear 11, thus imparting rotation to the operating` shaft which, thru the cam or eccentric means, serves to elevate the series of blocks 5.

In this connection, it will be noticed from Fig. 1, that the shaft 13 simultaneously operates the complemental shaft 10. In other words, there are two of these shafts j0urnaled in spaced parallelism and servingto operate the pairs of blocks on the opposite ends thereof. A single Vmotor shaft, however, serves to simultaneously7 operate the block shaft.

VV hen the gear 11 is set into rotation, the Contact segment 15 on one track comes beneath the contacts carried by the make and break blocks 23. This therefore shunts the current through the wire Q4 back to the battery 19. in the meantime, switch 18 is opened. When the `gear has traveled approximately one-half revolution, the Contact pins of the maire and break device move into the insulated gap between the respective segments, thus automatically breaking` the circuit and stopping rotation of the shaft 10.

The parts are so timed, and proportioned, as to bring` the blocks 5 up flush with the tread of the tracks at this time. Continued rotation of the driving` means will be such as to return the blocks to a lowered position which does not interfere with the proper travel of the car wheels. lin other words, when one set oit blocks is in iowered position, it does not interfere with the proper operation ot the wheels of the passing` train.

lt is also clear that when switch 17 is operated, th-e operation just described is substantially duplicated, such structure being brought into play and the east bound track is occupied.

It is believed that by considering the description in connection with the drawings, a

; resorted to 'if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a grooved track rail, a block mounted for vertical sliding;` movement upon said rail and adapted-to be projected into said groove to operateas avtemporary bridge in the gap existing between opposed side Walls of the groove, a rotatably @mounted shaft, motor driven operating means itorsaid shaft, and an eccentric lconnection between said shaft. and block tor li'eciprocatingr said block.

2. ln a structure oia the class describechia rotary shaft, a gear mount-ed kon the central portion ofthe shaft` cccen 'cs carried by the end portions oi: the-.sha'l'r,.a band cm bracing each eccentric, a block pivotally connected to said band, a motor driven shaft (intending at right angles to said first named shaft, a worm carried bysaid motor shaft and lin. mesh with said lcontact segre ments carried by` opposite sides of the said gear, and insulated "from each other in spaced relation, and an electric circuit adapted to cooperate with said contactsegments.

ln testimony whereotl I aiiix my signature.

LOUIS 'MORROV 

